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CAMBRIDGE    UNIVERSITY   PRESS 

C.    F.   CLAY,   Manager 

ILonUon:   FETTER  LANE,  E.C. 

lElrmburgI) :    loo  PRINCES  STREET 


i^tta  gorh:    G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 

Sombajj  anU  cralaitta:   MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  Ltd. 

Eorontn:  J.  M.  DENT  AND  SONS,  Ltd. 

JTofep.o:  THE  MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA 


All  rights  reserved 


BELGIUM    IN    WAR 

A    RECORD    OF    PERSONAL 
EXPERIENCES 


BY 

J.  H.  WHITEHOUSE,  M.P. 


Cambridge  : 

at  the  University  Press 
1915 


First  Impression  i  February  191 5 
Second  Impression  2  February  1915 
Third  Impression  11  February  1915 


TO 

DORRIE 

THE  COMPANION 

OF    MY    JOURNEY 

THIS  TRIBUTE  OF  AFFECTION 


INTRODUCTION 

BY  THE 

CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  EXCHEQUER 

T    AM    glad   that   my   friend    Mr   J.    H.   White- 
-*-    house,    M.P.,    has    allowed    the    story   of    his 
experiences  in   Belgium  during  the  war  to  be  re- 
printed in  aid  of  the  Relief  Funds. 

It  is  a  record  which  enables  the  reader  to  realize 
in  part  what  the  war  has  meant  for  Belgium,  for 
her  children  and  women  and  old  people,  as  well  as 
for  her  soldiers. 

I  hope  its  publication  may  still  further  extend 
the  welcome  which  it  is  the  privilege  of  the  British 
Nation  to  offer  to  this  brave  and  much-wronged 
people. 

D.  LLOYD  GEORGE. 

30  December  1914 


CONTENTS 


Introduction  by  the  Right  Hon.  D.  Lloyd  George,  M.P 

Note 

Belgium  in  War  : 

The  Condition  of  Antwerp  . 

The  Defences  of  Antwerp    . 

The  Belgian  Ministry 

The  Hospitals 

Termonde      .... 

The  General  Situation  throughout  Belgium 

The  German  Methods  in  Belgium 

Tactics  at  Lidge  and  Namur 

The  Beginning  of  the  Attack  on  Antwerp 

The  Belgian  Priest  in  War 

Summary  of  the  Present  Position 

The  Future 

Steps  for  the  British  Government 


PAGE 

vii 


3 
6 

8 

ID 

12 

15 
i6 
i8 
19 

21 
22 

24 

26 


2  Belgium  in  IVar 

It  is  to  be  doubted  whether,  even  yet,  the  tragedy 
of  Belgium,  with  the  infinite  suffering  involved  for 
some  millions  of  non-combatants,  has  been  realised 
by  the  world.  What  has  happened?  A  country 
containing  a  population  of  eight  millions  of  peaceful 
and  industrious  persons  has  suddenly  found  itself 
the  centre  of  a  conflict  between  mighty  armies,  and 
has  been  overrun,  devastated  and  ruined.  Her  life 
as  a  nation  is  destroyed,  her  people  are  fugitives, 
dependent  upon  the  hospitality  of  the  stranger. 

The  pages  of  history  scarcely  offer  any  parallel 
for  this  tragedy  in  its  suddenness,  its  immensity, 
and  its  sacrifice  of  human  life  and  material  wealth. 

I  visited  Belgium  with  the  object  of  ascertaining 
the  condition  of  the  civilian  population  generally 
and  of  informing  myself  at  first  hand  as  to  the  con- 
ditions set  up  by  the  War  in  an  innocent  and  peaceful 
country. 

I  have  ever  believed  that  war  is  the  negation  of 
all  that  is  good,  and  I  was  anxious  to  see  what  its 
ravages  were,  and  how  best  its  wounds  could  be 
healed.     But  I  was  not  prepared  for  the  reality. 

I  want  to  attempt  to  bring  home  to  my  readers 
what  has  happened,  and  this  not  to  arouse  passion, 
but  to  kindle  sympathy. 

I  reached  Antwerp  towards  the  end  of  September. 
The  King  and  his  Cabinet,  with  the  rest  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Government,  exiled  from  their  capital, 
had  made  the  city  their  head-quarters  and  were 
conducting  the  work  of  government  as  best  they 
could   over   a   sadly   shrunken   area,   Antwerp   and 


War 


("SU    EIN    FKISCIIHK    1-KOLICllHR    KRlliG") 


A  Record  of  Personal  Experiences        3 

Ostend,  with  the  intervening  coast  Hne,  being 
practically  all  that  remained  to  them. 

It  was  thus  difficult  to  get  about  the  country, 
and,  indeed,  only  possible  at  all  because  the  Germans 
frequently  withdrew  for  a  time  from  places  they  had 
occupied  or  destroyed. 

On  Sunday,  the  27th  of  September,  I  was  received 
by  the  King  of  the  Belgians.  At  the  end  of  the 
conference  I  was  asked  by  the  King  to  transmit 
once  more  the  expression  of  his  thanks  for  all  that 
was  being  done  for  his  people  by  the  British  nation. 


THE    CONDITION    OF    ANTWERP 

Antwerp  itself,  though  practically  isolated,  did 
not  at  first  glance  show  many  signs  of  the  War  then 
rolling  almost  to  its  gates.  There  were  some  changes 
in  its  physical  appearance.  The  German  shops  were 
untenanted  and  barred.  The  public  buildings,  and 
many  private  ones,  were  decorated  with  the  national 
flag.  The  streets  were  crowded,  especially  in  the 
afternoons  and  early  evenings.  Everywhere  eager 
crowds  read  war  telegrams  exhibited  in  shop  windows. 
The  Flemish  and  French  papers  were  bought  in 
large  numbers.  They  contained  surprisingly  little 
news,  practically  nothing  of  current  operations  being 
printed.  A  large  part  of  the  contents  of  all  the 
papers  consisted  of  reprints  from  English  newspapers 

I — 2 


4  Belgiiun  in  War 

three  or  four  days  old,  or  even  more.  Mr  Lloyd 
George's  Queen's  Hall  speech  was  being  printed  and 
discussed  nearly  a  week  after  it  had  been  delivered. 

Many  of  the  foreign  legations  had  removed  to 
Antwerp  with  the  Government,  and  were  quartered 
in  various  hotels  in  the  city. 

There  was  no  lack  of  food  within  Antwerp.  The 
supplies  from  Holland  had  not  been  interrupted, 
and  the  prices  of  foodstuffs  remained  normal.  It 
was  a  noticeable  feature  at  the  daily  vegetable 
markets  that  many  very  tiny  children  were  acting  as 
food  buyers  for  the  homes. 

As  the  city  was  known  to  be  in  danger  of  attack, 
refugees  from  the  ravaged  districts  around  were  not 
admitted  indiscriminately,  but,  except  in  the  case  of 
those  who  came  to  embark  on  the  English  steamers, 
were  sent  on  to  other  places  and  otherwise  arranged 
for. 

The  possible  fate  of  the  wonderful  fourteenth- 
century  cathedral,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  Gothic 
churches  in  the  world,  must  have  been  frequently  in 
the  minds  not  only  of  those  who  have  the  guardian- 
ship of  this  world  treasure,  but  of  all  who  know 
it.  Steps  were  taken  for  its  safety.  It  displayed 
from  the  summit  of  its  incomparable  tower  a  pro- 
tecting flag.  The  pictures  which  usually  decorate 
the  interior,  including  Rubens'  famous  masterpiece, 
The  Descent  from  the  Cross,  were  removed  to  the 
cellars. 

One  visit  which  I  paid  to  the  cathedral  brought 
home  with  dramatic  force  the  sacrifice  which  Belgium 


The  Condition  of  Antwerp  5 

was  making.  It  was  the  hour  of  the  afternoon 
service.  Outside  was  the  crowded  eager  Hfe  of  an 
excited  populace,  finding  outlet  for  its  emotion  and 
solace  for  its  fears  in  communal  intercourse.  Inside, 
the  vast  congregation  was  composed  largely  of 
women,  nearly  all  of  them  in  deep  mourning.  Many 
of  them  seemed  very  old;  they  wept  for  sons, 
the  little  ones  clinging  to  their  dress  for  fathers. 
Their  faces,  beautiful  with  the  toil  and  thought  of 
years,  were  singularly  impressive.  They  might  have 
stepped  from  the  wonderful  Flemish  canvases  in  the 
Art  Gallery  of  their  city. 

A  few  days  later  these  mourning  women,  old  and 
young,  bearing  in  primitive  bundles  all  that  they 
could  save  of  their  household  goods,  formed  part  of 
the  procession  from  the  city  of  its  entire  population. 
History  itself  can  scarcely  offer  a  parallel  to  a  spec- 
tacle so  charged  with  human  suffering.  Five  hundred 
thousand  peaceful  and  unoffending  inhabitants, 
homeless  and  helpless,  were  fleeing  into  the  darkness. 
From  the  banks  of  the  Scheldt  amidst  flashes  of 
fire  they  had  what  for  many  of  them  was  their 
last  vision  of  the  city  of  their  birth. 

At  night  Antwerp  was  both  dark  and  silent 
during  the  days  preceding  the  bombardment.  The 
shops  and  cafes  closed  early.  By  eight  o'clock  not 
a  light  was  to  be  seen,  and  the  silence  was  only 
broken  from  time  to  time  by  the  throb  of  military 
cars  passing  through  the  city. 

The  German  army  sent  several  Zeppelins  over 
Antwerp.     The  first  bomb  which  was  thrown  did 


6  Belgium  in  War 

considerable  damage,  and  killed  more  than  a  dozen 
persons.  A  married  couple  who  were  in  the  ground- 
floor  room  of  a  house  near  which  the  bomb  exploded 
were  blown  to  pieces,  and  the  room  presented  a 
very  horrible  appearance.  The  Zeppelin  raid  did 
not,  however,  create  any  general  panic,  though  the 
city  appeared  to  have  no  defence  against  them. 
A  hostile  aeroplane  came  over  us  at  a  great  height, 
and  the  guns  which  were  turned  upon  it  seemed 
hopelessly  inadequate.  It  did  not,  however,  succeed 
in  doing  any  damage. 


THE    DEFENCES    OF    ANTWERP 

In  view  of  subsequent  events,  it  may  not  be 
without  interest  to  record  what  was  seen  of  the 
defences  of  Antwerp.  It  had  the  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  strongest  fortresses  in  Europe,  and 
had  long  been  intended  to  serve  as  the  base  of  the 
army,  should  it  be  compelled  to  retire  in  case  of  the 
violation  of  the  neutrality  of  the  country.  Three 
circles  of  forts  defended  the  city.  Some  of  these 
were  built  fifty  years  ago,  and  all  of  them  before 
anything  was  known  of  the  new  German  siege  guns, 
throwing  a  shell  nearly  a  ton  in  weight,  for  a  distance 
of  seven  miles,  and  it  was  clear  to  the  military 
authorities  that  their  forts  would  not  stand  for  long 
a  bombardment  under  the  new  conditions,  and  that 
additional   measures  were   essential.     I  was  shown 


I 


< 

B 
o 


The  Defences  of  Antwerp  7 

what  these  latter  were,  and  there  is  no  longer  any 
reason  for  silence  respecting  them.  A  bridge  of 
boats  had  been  thrown  over  the  Scheldt  west  of  the 
city,  which  served  as  the  chief  means  of  communi- 
cation with  the  south-west  portion  of  Belgium. 
For  some  miles  around  Antwerp  everything  that 
would  afford  cover  for  the  Germans  was,  as  far  as 
possible,  destroyed.  Many  thousands  of  trees  were 
cut  down,  and  their  trunks  removed  or  burnt,  so 
that  woods  and  little  forests  had  become  barren 
plains.  A  large  number  of  houses  had  been  similarly 
destroyed,  and  the  debris  carted  away  or  scattered. 
All  the  way  to  the  outer  line  of  forts,  and  beyond, 
an  enormous  number  of  trenches  had  been  prepared. 
At  many  strategic  points  extensive  wire  entangle- 
ments had  been  prepared,  which  were  electrified  and 
would  cause  death  to  any  coming  into  contact  with 
them.  I  was  informed  by  the  Minister  of  Finance 
that  the  value  of  the  property,  the  destruction  of 
which  was  rendered  necessary  by  these  precautionary 
measures  for  the  defence  of  Antwerp  amounted  to 
nearly  10,000,000/. 

The  defence  guns  of  Antwerp  did  not  compare 
with  the  German  siege  guns,  and  the  Belgians  were 
further  handicapped  by  some  shortage  of  ammunition, 
due  in  part  to  the  fact  that  some  of  their  ammunition 
factories  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Germans. 


8  Belgiitni  in  IVar 


THE    BELGIAN    MINISTRY 

The  members  of  the  Belgian  Government  set  an 
example  of  great  bravery  and  resourcefulness.  Each 
Minister  in  Antwerp  was  working  incessantly  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  government  under  unex- 
ampled conditions  of  difficulty  and  danger.  They 
had  made  arrangements  by  which  they  were  kept  in 
touch  with  events  in  almost  every  part  of  the  country 
occupied  by  the  Germans,  and  they  were  able  to 
take  steps  accordingly  from  day  to  day,  as  the 
situation  demanded.  There  was  no  panic,  or  alarm, 
or  excitement  in  their  methods.  They  were  quiet, 
unassuming  men  whose  lives  had  hitherto  been  spent 
in  the  paths  of  peace,  but  they  showed  the  most 
unbounded  courage.  They  felt  no  doubt  as  to  the 
future,  and  they  made  their  plans  for  it  in  this 
spirit.  Their  moderation  was  very  impressive.  They 
distinguished  between  the  German  nation  and  the 
German  army,  and  realised  that  there  were  two 
Germanys,  one  which  they  had  known  and  trusted, 
and  another  which  was  ravaging  their  land. 

The  Belgian  Ministry  gave  me  every  possible 
assistance  in  connexion  with  my  mission.  Their 
anxiety  throughout  was  to  enable  me  to  see  for  myself 
the  state  of  their  country.  This  was  a  matter  of 
great  difficulty,  as  the  German  troops  were  moving 
rapidly  over  many  parts  of  the  country,  and  it  was 
not  possible  to  tell  a  day  in  advance  which  points 
we  could  attempt  to  visit. 


J 


The  Belgian  Ministry  9 

The  Ministry  expressed  to  me  their  great  gratitude 
for  the  rehef  which  was  coming  from  England,  but 
they  stated  that  so  extensive  were  the  conditions  of 
want  and  actual  starvation  that  the  help  they  were 
receiving  was  as  a  drop  in  the  ocean.  They  stated 
that  a  great  proportion  of  the  population  in  Belgium 
were  starving,  and  they  gave  me  the  following  list 
of  goods  as  being  those  most  urgently  required: 

Coal  Flour 

Rice  Sugar 

Salt  Dry  vegetables 

Beans  Clothing  of  all  descriptions 

They  suggested  that  these  articles  should  be  sent 
direct  to  Antwerp  and  that  they  should  undertake 
their  distribution.  The  German  troops  were  con- 
stantly moving  and  the  Government  could,  therefore, 
reach  a  considerable  number  of  the  districts  most 
in  need.  They  added  that  no  quantities  which  the 
imagination  could  suggest  would  be  too  great  to 
send. 

When  this  conversation  took  place  it  was  not 
thought  that  the  Germans  would  attempt  to  capture 
Antwerp.  The  development  of  the  military  situation 
and  the  enforced  flight  of  the  Government  upset,  for 
the  time,  all  the  relief  schemes.  The  whole  problem 
has  assumed  a  new  character  owing  to  the  wholesale 
exodus  of  the  population  from  many  parts  of  Belgium. 


lo  Belgium  in  War 


THE    HOSPITALS 

Antwerp  was,  of  course,  the  main  and,  latterly, 
the  only  hospital  base  for  the  whole  of  Belgium. 
Many  of  the  public  buildings  had  been  transformed 
and  were  used  as  emergency  hospitals.  The  hospitals 
sent  by  other  countries  were  located  here. 

I  visited  most  of  these  hospitals  and  was  impressed 
by  their  efficiency.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
there  had  been  a  shortage  of  surgical  requirements, 
including  a  notable  absence  of  anaesthetics,  but  this 
had  since  been  made  good. 

No  more  striking  proof  of  what  the  war  meant 
to  the  Belgian  nation  was  needed  than  a  visit  to  the 
great  military  hospital  in  Antwerp.  I  hope  I  may 
be  forgiven  for  giving  a  very  brief  account  of  my 
own  visit  to  it.  I  do  not  wish  to  gratify  the  curiosity 
of  the  morbid  but  to  enlist  sympathy  and  aid. 

The  enormous  buildings  of  the  military  hospital 
were  filled  with  the  wounded.  They  included  every 
class  of  injury.  Many  were  suffering  from  rifle 
wounds.  These  were  the  least  serious  cases.  The 
wounds  were  generally  clean,  and  healed  quickly. 
There  were,  however,  a  great  number  of  cases  of 
shell  wounds.  Some  of  these  were  of  a  very  fearful 
character.  The  surgeons  were  working  under  great 
pressure.  In  one  operating  room  the  surgeons  were 
dealing  with  a  smashed  thigh,  caused  by  shell;  in 
the  room  adjoining  and  in  the  passage  connecting. 


The  Hospitals  1 1 

seriously  wounded  soldiers  lay  on  stretchers  waiting 
to  be  brought  into  the  operating  room. 

One  portion  of  the  hospital  was  devoted  to 
wounded  Germans.  The  arrangements  for  these 
were  the  same  as  for  the  Belgians.  Except  that 
there  were  armed  sentries  at  the  doors  there  was 
no  distinction.  Many  of  the  wounds  were  serious. 
One  German  whom  I  saw  had  had  both  eyes  blown 
out,  and  was  slowly  recovering. 

I  should  like  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  devotion  of 
the  staff  of  the  British  Field  Hospital.  The  school  in 
which  it  had  been  placed  was  filled  with  Belgians,  all 
seriously  wounded.  Many  of  the  injuries  were  from 
shells  and  involved  complicated  and  difficult  opera- 
tions. When  I  was  in  the  hospital  I  saw  an  operation 
being  performed  on  a  soldier  whose  leg  had  been 
broken  in  seventeen  places;  not  only  was  there  a 
practical  certainty  of  saving  the  patient's  life,  but  it 
was  also  hoped  to  save  the  injured  limb.  This  case 
was  typical  of  many  more. 

The  needs  of  the  Belgian  Red  Cross  Society 
were  brought  to  my  notice.  Their  funds  were 
exhausted  and  they  were  urgently  appealing  to  the 
Government,  already  bearing  burdens  beyond  their 
strength,  for  immediate  financial  help.  This  matter 
has  been  brought  formally  to  the  notice  of  the  British 
Red  Cross  Society,  and  I  trust  some  of  the  funds  of 
the  latter  may  be  used  in  Belgium.  I  believe  that 
public  opinion  would  be  wholly  in  favour  of  this 
being  done. 


12  Belgium  in  War 


TERMONDE 

On  Saturday,  the  26th  of  September,  I  was  told 
by  the  Minister  of  Finance  that  it  would  be  possible 
for  me  to  reach  Termonde.  Two  military  motor  cars 
were  placed  at  my  disposal.  The  party  with  me 
included  the  King's  Private  Secretary  and  a  staff 
officer.  We  left  Antwerp  at  midday,  and  we  were 
enabled  to  see  for  ourselves  the  damage  which  the 
Belgians  had  had  to  inflict  upon  themselves  in  order 
to  protect  their  city.  The  destruction  of  property 
of  every  description  and  the  flooding  of  vast  areas 
of  low-lying  land  gave  the  appearance  of  horrible 
desolation. 

When  we  had  gone  a  little  distance  we  became 
aware  that  an  attack  was  being  made  by  the  enemy 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Termonde,  and  faint  echoes 
of  the  guns  reached  us. 

We  passed  through  the  villages  and  small  towns 
which  cluster  round  Antwerp,  the  road  being  fre- 
quently crowded  with  troops  and  with  innumerable 
transport  waggons  going  to  or  returning  from  the 
Front.  In  the  villages  all  ordinary  life  was  arrested, 
the  women  and  children  standing  or  sitting,  dumb 
and  patient,  by  the  roadside.  Half  way  to  Termonde 
we  could  hear  very  plainly  the  booming  of  the  guns. 
We  were  hindered  in  our  journey  by  the  destruction 
of  bridges  and  to  some  extent  by  the  flooded  nature 
of  the  country.  When,  at  length,  we  reached  the 
Scheldt  before  Termonde,  we  found  a  very  rough 


Ternionde  1 3 

narrow  bridge  which,  with  care,  we  were  able  to 
cross.  Here  the  firing  was  very  vivid.  There  were 
considerable  numbers  of  Belgian  troops,  and  we  saw 
many  evidences  of  the  battle  which  was  then  raging. 
We  came  to  the  margin  of  the  town  and  began  our 
detailed  inspection. 

I  had  read  newspaper  accounts  of  the  destruction 
of  Termonde,  and  I  had  seen  photographs  of  houses 
or  parts  of  streets  showing  the  work  of  destruction. 
They  had  not  conveyed  to  my  mind  any  realisation 
of  the  horror  of  what  had  actually  happened. 

Termonde  a  few  weeks  ago  was  a  beautiful  city 
of  about  16,000  inhabitants;  a  city  in  which  the 
dignity  of  its  buildings  harmonised  with  the  natural 
beauty  of  its  situation ;  a  city  which  contained  some 
buildings  of  surpassing  interest.  I  found  it  entirely 
destroyed;  I  went  through  street  after  street, 
square  after  square,  and  I  found  that  every  house 
was  entirely  destroyed  with  all  its  contents.  It  was 
not  the  result  of  a  bombardment :  it  was  systematic 
destruction.  In  each  house  a  separate  bomb  had 
been  placed  which  had  blown  up  the  interior  and  had 
set  fire  to  the  contents.  All  that  remained  were 
portions  of  the  outer  walls,  still  constantly  falling, 
and  inside  the  cinders  of  the  contents.  Not  a  shred 
of  furniture  or  of  anything  else  remained. 

This  sight  continued  in  street  after  street  through- 
out the  entire  extent  of  what  had  been  a  considerable 
town.  It  had  an  indescribable  influence  upon  the 
observer  which  no  printed  description  or  even 
pictorial    record    could    give.     This    influence    was 


14 


Belgium  in  JVar 


increased  by  the  utter  silence  of  the  city,  broken 
only  by  the  sound  of  the  guns.  Of  the  population  I 
thought  not  a  soul  remained — I  was  wrong.  For  as 
we  turned  into  a  square  where  the  wreck  of  what  had 
been  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  Gothic  churches 
met  my  eyes,  a  blind  woman  and  her  daughter 
groped  among  the  ruins.  They  were  the  sole  living 
creatures  in  the  whole  of  the  town.  Shops,  factories, 
churches,  the  houses  of  the  wealthy,  all  were  similarly 
destroyed.  One  qualification  only  have  I  to  make  of 
this  statement.  Two  or  perhaps  three  houses  bore  a 
German  command  in  chalk  that  they  were  not  to  be 
burnt.  These  remained  standing,  but  deserted, 
amidst  the  ruins  on  either  side.  Where  a  destroyed 
house  had  obviously  contained  articles  of  value 
looting  had  taken  place.  In  the  ruins  of  what  had 
been  a  jeweller's  shop  the  remains  of  the  safe  were 
visible  amidst  the  cinders.  The  part  around  the 
lock  had  been  blown  off  and  the  contents  rifled. 

I  inquired  what  had  become  of  the  population. 
It  was  a  question  to  which  no  direct  reply  could  be 
given.  They  had  fled  in  all  directions.  Some  had 
reached  Antwerp,  but  a  great  number  were  wandering 
about  the  country  panic-stricken  and  starving; 
many  were  already  dead. 


(U 

o 


o 

3 

u 


I 


General  Situation  throughotit  Belgium     15 


THE  GENERAL  SITUATION   THROUGHOUT 
BELGIUM 

I  had  other  opportunities  of  seeing  that  what  had 
happened  at  Termonde  was  typical  of  what  had 
happened  in  other  parts  of  Belgium  under  the 
military  occupation  of  Germany,  and  I  have  given 
this  record  of  the  condition  of  Termonde  because  it 
is  typical. 

Conditions  of  unexampled  misery  have  been 
set  up  for  the  civilian  population  throughout  the 
occupied  territory.  Until  the  fall  of  Antwerp  com- 
paratively only  a  few  refugees  had  reached  this 
country.  The  others  remained  wandering  about 
Belgium  flocking  into  other  towns  and  villages  or 
flying  to  points  a  little  way  across  the  Dutch  frontier. 
Sometimes  when  a  town  has  been  bombarded  the 
Germans  have  withdrawn  and  the  civilians  have 
returned  to  their  homes,  only  to  flee  again  at  a 
renewed  attack  from  the  enemy.  A  case  in  point  is 
Malines,  which  on  the  27th  of  September,  as  I  was 
trying  to  reach  it,  was  again  bombarded.  The 
inhabitants  were  then  unable  to  leave,  as  the  town 
was  surrounded.  But  when  the  bombardment  ceased 
there  was  a  panic  exodus. 

The  whole  life  of  the  nation  has  been  arrested; 
the  food  supplies  which  would  ordinarily  reach  the 
civilian  population  are  being  taken  by  the  German 
troops  for  their  own  support.  The  poor  and  many 
others  are  without  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  the 


1 6  Belgium  in  IVar 

conditions  of  starvation  grow  more  acute  every  day. 
Even  where,  as  in  some  cases  happens,  there  is  a 
supply  of  wheat  available,  the  peasants  are  not 
allowed  to  use  their  windmills  owing  to  the  German 
fear  that  they  will  send  signals  to  the  Belgian  army. 
We  are  face  to  face  with  a  fact  unique  perhaps 
in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  life  of  an  entire 
nation  has  been  arrested,  its  army  is  driven  to  the 
borders  of  another  country,  the  bulk  of  its  civilian 
population  are  refugees,  of  those  who  remain  many 
are  panic-stricken  wanderers  from  village  to  village. 


THE  GERMAN  METHODS  IN  BELGIUM 

As  I  have  already  stated,  the  completeness  of 
the  destruction  at  Termonde  was  a  feature  which 
almost  everywhere  marked  the  German  progress 
through  Belgium.  It  was  amazing  because  it  was 
not  the  result  of  the  ordinary  incidents  of  war  such 
as  bombardment.  It  was  organised  and  systematic 
destruction.  The  method  of  it  was  explained  to  me 
in  detail  by  the  Belgian  Government,  and  particularly 
by  the  venerable  Speaker  of  the  Belgian  Parliament. 
I  had  explained  to  me  and  was  shown  the  numerous 
appliances  which  the  German  soldiers  carried  for 
destroying  property.  Not  only  were  hand-bombs  of 
various  sizes  and  descriptions  carried,  but  each  soldier 
was  supplied  with  a  quantity  of  small  black  discs 
little  bigger  than  a  sixpenny-piece.  I  saw  these 
discs  which  had  been  taken  from  German  soldiers  on 


w 


(U 


The  German  Methods  in  Belgiu7n        17 

the  field  of  battle.  These  were  described  to  me  as 
being  composed  of  compressed  benzine ;  when  lighted 
they  burn  brilhantly  for  a  few  minutes,  and  are 
sufficient  to  start  whatever  fire  is  necessary  after  the 
explosion  of  the  bomb. 

Many  of  the  German  soldiers  who  were  captured 
were  found  to  be  carrying  handcuffs,  which  had 
apparently  been  served  out  to  some  regiments  as  a 
matter  of  course. 

The  Belgian  Government  thought  that  the  object 
of  the  German  metliods  was  to  terrorise  the  nation, 
and  that  their  comparative  moderation  at  Brussels 
was  due  to  the  presence  of  the  Ambassadors  of 
neutral  countries.  I  was  given  instances  of  the 
atrocities  which  the  German  army  was  everywhere 
committing.  They  were  murdering  the  civil  popu- 
lation and  they  had  put  to  death  a  large  number  of 
priests.  The  things  came  as  the  greater  shock  to 
the  Government  because  in  1870  the  Germans  had 
observed  international  laws  of  war,  and  their  cam- 
paign was  free  from  their  present  cruelties  and 
outrages. 

I  had  described  to  me  by  a  leading  citizen  of 
Liege  the  incidents  following  the  occupation  of  that 
city.  He  is  a  distinguished  scholar  of  unimpeachable 
character.  I  only  refrain  from  mentioning  his  name 
in  order  not  to  endanger  his  safety.  He  was  in 
Liege  throughout  the  assault  and  witnessed  the 
arrival  of  the  German  troops  in  the  city.  From  the 
windows  of  his  own  house,  saved  from  destruction  by 
chance  because  it  was  next  to  one  occupied  by  a 

w.  B.  w.  2 


1 8  Belgiimi  in  War 

German  officer,  he  saw  soldiers  going  from  house  to 
house  setting  each  on  fire.  The  terrified  occupants 
rushed  from  the  burning  houses,  the  women  and 
children  generally  clinging  to  the  men.  Again  and 
again  he  saw  the  soldiers  pull  off  the  women  and 
children,  and  then  shoot  the  men  before  their  eyes. 
He  witnessed,  too,  the  shooting  of  a  number  of  priests. 
I  made  myself  acquainted  with  the  methods  which 
were  being  followed  by  the  Commission  appointed 
by  the  Belgian  Government  to  investigate  the 
methods  of  the  German  army.  It  is  a  distinguished 
Commission  and  it  has  sifted  all  its  evidence  with 
judicial  impartiality.  Where  witnesses'  or  even 
victims'  names  are  suppressed,  it  is  in  order  to  secure 
the  safety  of  them  or  their  relatives.  Their  state- 
ments are  all  capable  of  proof  and  will  bear  the 
strictest  investigation.  But  indeed  to  one  who  has 
seen  the  ravage  of  Belgium  no  other  confirmation  is 
necessary. 

TACTICS    AT    LIEGE    AND    NAMUR 

The  Belgian  Government  described  to  me  the 
difference  in  the  German  methods  of  attack  at  Liege 
and  Namur.  They  explained  to  me  the  rushing 
tactics  of  great  bodies  of  massed  troops  at  the  former 
place,  which  resulted  in  enormous  German  losses. 
At  Namur  these  methods  were  entirely  altered. 
The  Germans  waited  for  five  days  before  attacking 
Namur,  and  did  so  only  when  their  siege  guns  were 
in  position.  They  relied  wholly  on  these,  and  the 
forts  of  Namur  were  powerless  against  them. 


(L) 
O 

•o 
<u 

>. 

o 


a 


03 

o 

'a 


Beginning  of  the  Attack  on  Ajitwerp    19 


THE    BEGINNING    OF    THE    ATTACK 
ON  ANTWERP 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  an  engage- 
ment near  Termonde.  It  was  the  beginning  of  the 
attack  which  culminated  in  the  evacuation  of 
Antwerp  and  the  flight  of  the  population. 

After  I  had  concluded  my  inspection  of  the  de- 
stroyed town  I  was  taken  to  the  south  of  Termonde, 
and  was  made  acquainted  by  the  military  authorities 
with  the  nature  of  the  fighting  which  was  taking 
place.  The  enemy  were  attempting  to  reoccupy  the 
Termonde  district,  and,  as  the  next  day  showed,  an 
advance  on  Malines,  east  of  Termonde,  was  part  of 
the  same  movement. 

I  was  taken  as  far  as  the  Belgian  trenches. 
Behind  me  the  guns  of  the  protecting  forts  were 
thundering.  The  Belgian  soldiers  were  lying  flat  in 
the  trenches,  which,  to  a  lay  mind,  appeared  to  be  of 
a  curious  formation.  They  were  not  cut  deep,  but 
a  bank  was  raised  on  the  firing  side  only,  consisting 
not  only  of  soil,  but  of  wood  logs  and  other  miscel- 
laneous things.  There  was  also  a  rough  cover  of 
what  appeared  to  be  iron  sheets  weighted  with  wood 
logs  and  supported  by  rough  stakes — generally  small 
tree  trunks.  Though  this  method  of  trenching 
might  afford  some  shelter  against  shells  breaking  in 
front  of  the  soldiers,  it  did  not  appear  to  be  effective 
against  those  breaking  behind  but  near  enough  for 
the  effect  of  the  explosion  to  reach  the  trench. 


20  Belgium  in  IVar 

We  could  hear  the  German  fire  but  could  see 
nothing  of  the  enemy.  One  of  his  shells  came  over 
us,  falling  well  in  our  rear.  Some  of  the  shells  fell 
in  the  ruined  town  behind  us. 

The  German  attack  was  successfully  resisted  on 
this  day  and  the  Belgians  held  their  ground,  the 
enemy  by  nightfall  having  retreated  about  three 
miles. 

We  could  see  in  actual  working  the  arrangements 
for  dealing  with  the  wounded  on  the  field  of  battle. 
In  the  rear  of  the  fighting  line  there  waited  ambu- 
lance men  with  stretcher-beds.  They  received  the 
wounded  from  the  Red  Cross  parties  who  brought 
them  direct  from  the  trenches.  Simple  first  aid  was 
given  and  they  were  then  taken  to  the  railway 
station,  happily  close  at  hand,  and  put  into  a  hospital 
train  in  waiting.  At  Antwerp  station  conveyances 
were  waiting  to  take  them  to  the  hospitals.  These 
arrangements  were  carried  out  as  expeditiously  as 
possible,  and  everything  humanly  possible  was  done 
for  the  sufferers.  But  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
much  suffering,  and  perhaps  loss  of  life,  would  be 
avoided  if  the  wounded  could  be  more  frequently 
taken  straight  to  the  hospital  base  by  a  motor 
ambulance  so  as  to  save  the  changes  and  delays  with 
the  consequent  suffering  which  transit  by  train 
meant.  This  is  in  no  sense  intended  as  a  criticism 
of  the  Belgian  arrangements,  which  were  the  subject 
of  great  care  and  devotion  and  were  as  good  as  was 
possible. 


The  Belgian  Priest  in  War  21 


THE    BELGIAN    PRIEST    IN    WAR 

Many  opportunities  occurred  to  witness  the  work 
of  the  Belgian  priests.  Of  their  courage  and  devotion 
it  would  be  impossible  to  speak  too  highly.  In 
every  village  they  were  to  be  found  comforting  and 
helping.  In  many  cases  they  acted  as  Red  Cross 
workers  and  carried  the  wounded  from  the  battle- 
field. I  saw  in  the  district  of  the  fighting  many  of 
these  priests  waiting  by  the  side  of  their  stretchers. 
They  retained  their  long  black  dress,  the  only  differ- 
ence they  had  made  being  the  assumption  of  the  Red 
Cross  band  on  their  arms. 

Their  work  in  this  connexion  should  be  remem- 
bered in  view  of  the  considerable  numbers  who  have 
been  put  to  death  by  the  Germans.  I  remember, 
too,  with  gratitude  and  admiration  the  vision  I  had 
of  their  work  when  I  returned  to  England  in  a  boat 
crowded  with  refugees.  They  moved  about  the 
great  crowd  huddled  together  during  a  violent  storm, 
doing  all  they  could  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  those 
poor  beings  already  panic-stricken  by  their  experi- 
ences on  land,  to  which  was  now  added  the  horror 
of  a  storm  at  sea  as  they  journeyed  to  an  unknown 
land. 


22  Belgium  in  IVar 


SUMMARY    OF    THE    PRESENT    POSITION 

To  attempt  to  sum  up,  Belgium  has  suffered 
destruction  in  the  following  different  ways,  each  of 
them  almost  equally  effective : 

(i)  By  deliberate  destruction  at  the  hands  of 
the  enemy. 

As  already  stated  Termonde  is  only  one  of  a 
great  number  of  towns  and  villages  which  have  been 
similarly  destroyed. 

(2)  By  destruction  done  by  the  Belgians  them- 
selves to  protect  certain  places. 

Antwerp  is  a  typical  example.  Everything  that 
could  afford  cover  to  the  enemy  had  been  destroyed. 
Along  the  line  which  the  enemy  was  expected  to 
follow  in  his  advance  it  had  been  found  necessary  to 
destroy  several  villages.  In  addition,  a  great  tract 
of  country  had  been  flooded,  and  presented  the 
appearance  of  a  huge  inland  sea.  The  illusion  would 
have  been  complete  had  it  not  been  for  the  tops  of 
hedges  and  high  banks  rising  here  and  there  above 
the  surface  of  the  water. 

(3)  By  the  enemy's  bombardment. 

The  damage  from  this  cause  has  been  of  a  most 
devastating  character.  The  most  typical  examples 
are  Liege,  Namur,  Malines,  Aerschot.  But  there  are 
many  more.  The  German  siege  guns  have  been  the 
revelation  of  the  war.  At  a  range  of  seven  miles 
they  drop  an  enormously  heavy  shell.     This  usually 


1 


The    Harvest 

(HET    KOREN    IS    RIJP) 


Stmunary  of  the  Present  Positiojt        23 

destroys  entirely  any  building  that  it  hits,  and  starts 
great  fires. 

Sometimes  a  town  has  suffered  bombardment, 
and  afterwards  has  been  wholly  or  partially  destroyed 
after  occupation  by  the  enemy.  A  portion  of  Liege 
suffered  this  fate,  as  also  did  Lou  vain. 

(4)     By  the  arrest  of  the  national  life. 

Possibly  this  is  the  most  serious  of  all  the  forms 
of  destruction  which  Belgium  has  suffered.  The 
ordinary  life  of  the  people  is  at  an  end.  Numbers 
which  run  into  millions  are  refugees  in  foreign  lands. 
Whole  cities,  like  Antwerp,  are  practically  empty. 
No  trade  or  commerce  is  carried  on.  The  factories 
are  silent,  the  many  coal  mines  are  deserted,  the 
shops  are  closed.  Most  serious  of  all,  perhaps, 
agriculture  is  at  a  standstill.  The  peasants  have 
fled  from  the  fields,  the  crops  are  trampled  by  the 
contending  armies. 

The  National  Government  has  had  to  fly  to  France . 
The  postal  and  telegraphic  services  are  suspended, 
and  all  the  amenities  which  a  nation  builds  up  in  the 
course  of  the  centuries. 

So  far  I  have  written  only  of  material  damage. 
I  have  not  spoken  of  the  loss  of  the  greatest  of  all 
treasure — human  life.  To  the  loss  inseparable  from 
the  arbitrament  of  war  there  must  be  added  in  this 
case  the  great  numbers  of  women  and  young  people 
who  have  perished  from  exposure  and  famine  as  they 
fled  from  their  homes  and  the  civilians  of  all  classes 
who  met  their  death  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  civilians  have  suffered  most  heavily  of  all. 


24  Belgium  in  JVar 

Their  homes  and  property  have  been  destroyed 
Their  leaders,  spiritual  and  secular,  have  not  infre- 
quently been  executed.  In  the  rush  from  the 
stricken  cities  children  have  often  been  separated 
from  their  parents  and  lost.  The  aged  and  the  sick 
have  in  many  cases  perished  during  the  flight.  So, 
too,  have  many  children. 

The  sufferings  of  the  Belgian  wounded  soldiers 
must  be  imagined.  Antwerp  served  as  the  general 
hospital  base  for  the  whole  of  Belgium.  The  schools, 
colleges,  and  public  buildings  were  converted  into 
temporary  hospitals.  When  the  bombardment  of 
Antwerp  began  it  was  decided  to  remove  all  these 
wounded.  They  were  put  into  motor-buses  and 
every  conceivable  kind  of  vehicle.  The  removal 
took  place  under  shell  fire.  Buildings  were  ablaze 
in  all  directions.  The  wounded  joined  that  great 
exodus.  After  indescribable  sufferings,  to  which 
many  of  them  succumbed  on  the  journey,  they 
reached  Ghent,  only  to  be  immediately  sent  on  to 
Ostend,  for  Ghent  was  unsafe.  These  are  things 
that  do  not  bear  thinking  of. 


THE    FUTURE 

What  does  the  future  hold  for  Belgium? 

I  write  on  the  assumption  that  the  country  will 
be  restored  to  her  people.  But  what  will  be  her 
condition?  Many  of  her  towns  and  villages  are 
wholly  destroyed.  Before  they  could  be  rebuilt  the 
existing  ruins  must  be  carted  away.     The  bulk  of 


The    Exodus 

(WAAR    ZOU    VAUHR    LIGGEN  ?) 


The  Future  25 

her  people  have  fled  to  other  lands.  All  the  activi- 
ties of  a  nation  have  ceased.  No  factories  are 
working,  no  trade  is  done.  Agriculture  is  at  an  end. 
The  peasants  have  fled  from  their  fields  and  farms. 
The  troops  have  trampled  the  harvest.  All  is  desola- 
tion and  decay.  And  great  as  the  ruin  is  at  the 
moment,  it  grows  worse  day  by  day. 

But  there  is  another  side  to  this  black  picture. 
It  is  not  easy  to  kill  a  nation.  It  is  like  trying  to 
kill  thought.  At  the  end  of  Shorthouse's  wonderful 
romance,  Mr  Inglesant  watches  in  the  setting  sun 
'  a  glorious  city,  bathed  in  life  and  hope,  full  of  happy 
people  who  thronged  its  streets  and  bridge,  and  the 
margin  of  its  gentle  stream.  Then  the  sunset  faded, 
and  the  ethereal  vision  vanished,  and  the  landscape 
lay  dark  and  chill. 

'The  sun  is  set. .  .but  it  will  rise  again.' 

So  it  is  with  Belgium.  Her  people  will  rise  once 
more.  They  will  rebuild  their  cities.  They  will 
recreate  their  homes.  They  will  re-establish  their 
commerce.  They  will  become  once  more  the  nation 
they  were. 

But  these  things  are  not  yet.  Belgium  is  now  in 
the  hour  of  her  need.  She  wants  our  help  and  it 
must  be  given  in  overwhelming  measure.  But  we 
are  not  helping  a  nation  which  is  going  to  perish. 
She  will  emerge  again. 

The  spirit  of  the  nation  may  be  seen  in  the 
spirit  of  her  King.  Let  me  offer  this  tribute,  however 
inadequate,  to  the  courage,  the  genius,  and  the 
splendid  heroism  of  the  King  of  the  Belgians.     The 


26  Belgiwn  in   JVar 

manner  in  which  he  has  faced  unexampled  mis- 
fortunes has  revealed  his  character  to  the  world. 
Known  as  one  of  the  most  modest  and  gentle  of  men, 
his  conduct  in  this  crisis  has  revealed  a  great  statesman 
and  a  great  leader.  In  part  this  has  been  a  revelation 
even  to  the  Belgians  themselves,  and  has  been  the 
inspiring  factor  in  the  national  action. 


STEPS   FOR  THE   BRITISH   GOVERNMENT 

In  conclusion,  there  are  two  steps  which  I  think 
the  Government  might  take  for  the  assistance  of 
Belgium  apart  from  their  schemes  for  the  refugees  in 
this  country.  The  first  is  to  send  a  Commission  to 
Holland  to  co-operate  with  representatives  of  neutral 
countries  in  getting  food  supplies  and  other  neces- 
saries of  life  to  the  non-combatants.  The  Govern- 
ment should  place  at  the  disposal  of  this  Commission 
whatever  food  supplies  are  necessary. 

The  second  is  to  establish  the  machinery  for  the 
help  of  the  Belgian  Government  when  it  becomes 
possible  for  them  and  their  people  to  return.  It  is 
then  that  our  help  will  be  most  needed.  It  may 
well  prove  indispensable.  For  if  the  army  which 
has  invaded  Belgium  were  to  leave  the  country  for 
ever  to-day,  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  Belgians 
to  resume  possession  of  their  land  immediately. 
The  details  given  in  this  book  supply  the  reasons. 
The  life  of  the  nation  as  a  whole  has  been  for  the 
time   being  ruined.     Whole  cities  and  towns  have 


steps  for  the  British  Government       27 

been  entirely  destroyed.  It  is,  therefore,  a  physical 
impossibility  for  the  Belgians  to  return  to  their 
homes  in  many  thousands  of  cases.  It  will  be 
necessary  to  cart  away  the  debris  of  whole  cities 
before  any  attempt  can  be  made  to  build  new  homes 
for  the  former  citizens.  It  cannot  be  done  in  a  day. 
Nor  can  the  arrested  hfe  of  a  nation  be  quickly 
resumed.  It  can  only  resume  its  normal  channel 
slowly. 

When  the  Belgians  return  to  their  country  they 
have  to  begin,  so  to  speak,  at  the  beginning  again. 
Houses,  churches,  factories  have  to  be  built.  Furni- 
ture has  to  be  made.  Machinery  m_ust  be  replaced. 
Farming  operations  have  to  be  reorganised.  The 
trades  and  manufactures  of  the  nation  have  to  be 
restarted. 

How  can  we  help  in  this  renascence?  Let  us 
offer  the  Belgian  nation,  through  a  properly  qualified 
Commission  set  up  by  the  Government,  the  services 
of  our  own  experts  in  the  various  departments  of 
industry  and  art  which  have  to  be  reconstituted  in 
Belgium.  She  will  want  the  guidance  and  help  of 
builders,  of  architects,  of  manufacturers,  of  agricul- 
turists, of  experts  in  every  department  of  national 
activity.  What  I  am  suggesting  is  really  the  setting 
up  of  a  national  clearing-house,  where  the  representa- 
tives of  every  profession  and  trade  here  who  desire 
to  give  any  kind  of  help  to  Belgium  in  the  day  when 
it  is  possible  to  begin  the  rebuilding  of  her  national 
life  may  bring  their  offers  of  service,  however 
diverse  the  forms  of  the  service  may  be,  and  have 


28  Belgium  in  War 

such  offers  co-ordinated,  and  the  help  they  stand  for 
organised,  in  a  scientific  manner,  by  an  official  body 
which  would  act  in  co-operation  with  the  Belgian 
Government.  We  can  give  guidance  and  help  in 
overflowing  measure,  and  in  doing  so  we  shall  assist 
Belgium  once  more  to  emerge  from  this  sorrow  and 
find  her  rightful  place  again. 

Who  is  this  that  rises  with  wounds  so  splendid; 

All  her  brow  and  breast  made  beautiful  with  scars, 
In  her  eyes  a  light  as  of  long  pain  ended, 

In  her  mouth  a  song  as  of  the  morning  stars? 


CAMBRIDGE  :    PRINTED   BY   JOHN   CLAY,   M.A.    AT   THE   UNIVERSITY   PRESS 


u 

5^1 


^ 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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